What Are the Duties of a Managing Editor?

The role of a managing editor varies among publications, but the duties remain largely the same. The ME is responsible for managing the editorial content and staff of a publication.

Editorial Content

Editorial content at a newspaper or magazine comes from the publication's staff writers, news agencies and outside contributors. The ME keeps tabs on all this content and coordinates the various sources to make sure the publication covers its field.

Editorial Staff

The staff of a publication consists of writers and editors who report to the ME either directly or indirectly. The ME coordinates work flow among the various members of the staff and usually has a role in hiring and firing.

Pecking Order

At some publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, the managing editor is the top editorial employee. At other publications, such as The New York Times, the top person is the executive editor and the ME plays a coordinating role.

Other Titles

Editors who may outrank the managing editor are the editor, editor in chief or executive editor.

Assistant Managing Editors

Especially in cases where the managing editor is the top editorial person, there may be one or more assistant managing editors who perform the same function for a particular section of the publication.

References

• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook